constructive dismissal

British

noun

a course of action taken by an employer that is detrimental to an employee and designed to leave the employee with no option but to resign

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A "gifted" NHS nurse who was deliberately left out of a tea round by a colleague who said "I don't like you" has won a claim for unfair constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal.

From BBC • Feb. 27, 2025

Ms Wight is now suing The Christie for constructive dismissal.

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2023

The former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has settled her claim of constructive dismissal, minutes before she was due to give testimony that was expected to be highly damaging.

From The Guardian • Jun. 7, 2016

Former Blues doctor Carneiro is suing the club for constructive dismissal, while Blues boss Jose Mourinho is the subject of an individual legal action.

From BBC • Dec. 8, 2015

She is claiming constructive dismissal against Sugar, describing the £100,000-a-year role she was given as that of an "overpaid lackey".

From The Guardian • Mar. 5, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023